Messages

1

Classifieds / 2005 Cannondale T800 XL touring bike for sale

« on: February 07, 2006, 12:22:36 pm »

Do you have any idea of the shipping costs to Virginia?

Could you mail photos to:
david.w.knapp@questdiagnostics.com
and
dk1117@cox.net

Thank you,
Dave Knapp

2

Gear Talk / Will touring destroy my wheels.

« on: June 08, 2006, 09:36:28 am »

Take a look at this and the discussions about Mavic wheels.  You may have to cut/paste this in.  It is one long line with no spaces.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=2621005&posted=1#post2621005

3

Gear Talk / Where to get new wheels

« on: May 29, 2006, 11:50:43 am »

The problem: Standard rear spokes keep breaking on commuter bike.  Wheels are WTB Dual Duty XC 700C with 32 stock spokes.  Rider weight is 145 lbs, with light weight saddle bags.  Four broken rear spokes in two years of daily riding.  Average 16 miles per day with occasional tours of 60 miles per day.  Paved roads and bike trails.  No dirt riding.  

Where is good online store for higher spoke count wheels?   Without spending more on wheels than the bike cost, what do you recommend? I figured something with at least 36 stainless spokes.

Bike is a Gary Fisher Nirvana.

4

Gear Talk / Best Functional Helmet

« on: May 29, 2006, 12:08:48 pm »

I like a helmet that allows some vision through a sunvisor.  That way, in the rain, you can have your head down for protection and still peer through openings to see where you are going.

As far as protection goes, in a major bike accident, there are so many variables and means of injury that worrying about a helmet that has some super specification is really carrying things too far.  I did an endo over the bars after catching my pedal on a concrete parking lot divider.  No helmet, medium speed, no head injury, but my collarbone was crushed into four pieces.  I am sure there are folks who can relate stories of fatal injuries with nothing but a head knock.  No helmet will protect much against neck injuries.  So, any certified helmet will do what it says, the rest of the equation is up to luck.

5

Gear Talk / Communications during ride

« on: April 30, 2006, 10:43:09 pm »

We got a couple from Midland.  They work well with the earpieces.  Have not tried the vox as yet, as I think the wind noise would cause them to cut in.  I may try to get foam windshields for the mics.  These only have two levels of wind squelch, so may stick with pressing the button.  Beats having to yell all the time on places where we cannot ride side-by-side.  We did a 50-miler today and they worked the whole time by using low power and less gab.  The first ride the batteries died after about 3-4 hours.  Today was 5.5 hours and they hung in there.  Distances have been good for about half a mile if no big hills.  This frequency is made for line-of-sight, so they don't do well over big hills, according to some of the other web sites I have checked out.  The earpieces are comfortable over the long haul.  About $75 for a pair with earpieces and car/home charger from Amazon.  Weather channel works well too.

6

Gear Talk / Communications during ride

« on: April 15, 2006, 09:49:23 pm »

What model radios do you have and what have you found the range to be?

7

Gear Talk / Communications during ride

« on: April 15, 2006, 12:02:12 pm »

My wildflower expert/wife (WEW) is looking for the following commo scenario with me (ME):
WEW - Honey, look to your left, redbuds!
ME - They're purple, why do they call them redbuds!
WEW - And over there, pussytoes!!!!
ME - Gasping noises trying to keep up with her
WEW - Oh, look, Virginia Bluebells
ME - Nice.
Etc.

8

Gear Talk / Communications during ride

« on: April 13, 2006, 05:56:10 pm »

Has anyone advice on how to have inter-bike commo on trips where we might be separated by a few miles or even a few dozen yards and not in yelling or cell phone coverage (or just not want to make a call)?  The motorcycle guys have some scheme with earpieces and mics and I was wondering if we touring bike riders have a lightweight solution?  Maybe those FRS walkie-talkies?  Anything else not involving tin cans and strings?

9

Gear Talk / Shoes for touring

« on: April 13, 2006, 06:08:15 pm »

I just got Shimano M020 (not too sure of model) on sale at Performance.  Combined with clipless on one side and platform on the other side pedals they work fine.  Only rides have been 30-milers but no hot spots and comfortable to walk in as well.  Clip does not crunch (very much) during walking.

10

Gear Talk / Burley Vagabond

« on: April 13, 2006, 06:01:20 pm »

Did you look at the REI 2006 Randonee?  Much less expensive, same gearing, has rack, worse color, and has low end vs. mid-range shifters.  But, I looked at both and felt the value was there.  One of the bike mags felt it was the 2006 best value bike as well.  The Burley is nice though.

11

Gear Talk / Trek 520 v Cannondale T2000

« on: April 15, 2006, 12:08:23 pm »

I looked at all the above bikes including the Burley and Surley, etc.  Finally got the REI/Novarra Randonee for about $750 because I used the REI membership %20 sale.  Normal price is $950, with rack.  Just put 35 miles on it this morning and have 250 since purchase in early March.  Other than ugly color, the 2006 model has the good gearing, STI shifters, etc.  Check it out.  Bike value of the year for Bicycling magazine.  Figured I could use the price diff to equip it with extras, but have not found need for much.

12

Gear Talk / Convert 8-speed to 9-speed?

« on: February 21, 2006, 09:16:45 pm »

Ok, thanks.  Turns out that the number of teeth on the front rings is also different for 06, more in line with what everyone says are the better ratios, so the 06 is looking better every day.  I was going to get new shifters anyway, but did not think the chain would also need to be changed.

But I also forgot to mention the horrible color of the '06.  An ugly dark brown.

13

Gear Talk / Convert 8-speed to 9-speed?

« on: February 20, 2006, 10:21:33 pm »

I have the chance to buy an '05 Novara Randonee.  It comes with an 8-speed rear cassette.  The '06 has 9-speed.  Is it a simple matter to swap the 8-speed for a 9?  Would I need new shifters?  Both years come with Tiagra shifters.  It is quite a bit less expensive than the '06, so spending $50 to make a few changes still leaves me with a bargin.  Any advice?

14

Gear Talk / Windsor Tourist? Is this a good bike?

« on: February 22, 2006, 09:49:51 pm »

For about $750 you could possibly get an '05 Novara Randonee at your local (if you have one) REI store or for $950 an '06 that has the better touring setup on the front chainrings (26/36/48 vs. 30/42/52).  The REI bikes would come fully setup, you can test ride them, etc.  Just a suggestion.  I looked around my metro area (Wash D.C) and could not find any shops that had anything other than one Trek 520 to look at.  No Fuji touring, no Cannondales.  The shop owners said they did not sell enough touring bikes to keep any in stock.  REI was my last choice and it had a good selection, although they would not order a Cannondale for me to check out unless I pre-paid for it, even though they carry the line.  Good luck.

15

Gear Talk / Importance of Disk Brakes?

« on: February 09, 2006, 05:23:42 pm »

I spoke to my wife about what her experience was in last year's Bike Virginia, which was pretty much all hills/mountains.  The organizer's instructions to the riders was to alternate front and rear usage so that each brake could have a chance to cool a bit before use.  Of course, only the rider would know what technique was used, but it is good to know that there are alternatives to what I had planned, which was to pretty much just drag evenly over the whole distance.

As for the drum brakes, those went out on cars for several very good reasons and I really cannot see them as an improvement over disks on bikes, at least if the disks are well designed.  Once drums heat up it seems to me that they would stay heated longer due to their larger mass, would be harder to maintain than disks, and add more weight to the wheel and bike, which, when you are already humping a 'bent uphill is not something you need.

I am leaning to the T800/T2000, but have not yet found one to look at.  The person with the T800 never responded to my e-mail, and I would have had to pay shipping across the U.S.

After short trips on two different tandem recumbents, the whole concept of hitching yourself to a stoker is not very appealing either, but that is a different thread.